colloquia of gas by supernova explosions, Time: 11:00 merging and associated growth of central Venue: 1986 Building black holes are all key processes that Speaker: Karen Pollard remain poorly understood. In this talk, I Abstract: In this talk I will present an will highlight how surveys of the gas and overview of our research project to the in nearby and distant observe and analyse the non-radial are shedding light on some of these key pulsa�ons in selected stars. We are processes. concentra�ng on gravity mode pulsators such as stars and slowly Title: Music of the Stars - Probing Stellar pulsa�ng B stars. I will describe the Interiors Through Analysing the Surface facili�es we use at the Mt John University Vibra�ons of Stars Observatory and well as presen�ng the Date: 9 February 2012 results from some recent analyses.

deep-sky delights

of Spain. The , also A Misty Cloud known as dwarf galaxies, are headed for by Magda Streicher an unavoidable mee�ng with Mother [email protected] Milky Way, which will sha�er and engulf the two satellite systems – fortunately in cosmic �me that will not point to an immediate disaster. It is common for us as -lovers always to be looking up at the starry skies and The ghostly glow of the LMC has bright absorbing the wonder of them, but objects in its midst and more than enough they always warrant a deeper look delights to enjoy even through binoculars – and especially now, during the southern alone. To study these objects it is best to summer months, when the Large and Small search out very dark skies and have a good Magellanic Clouds can be seen suspended star map and a lot of �me. against the night sky. Not only is the sight of these two Clouds a clear indicator of NGC 1711 is located in the upper our place in the universe, but we are also northern fringes of the LMC, one of many privileged to be able to study these satellite open clusters to be found in the Cloud. galaxies situated rela�vely close by. Although rela�vely small in size it displays a dense star-rich core with an uneven The Clouds are named a�er the shape and featureless surface. With Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan higher magnifica�on many faint stars can who sailed the seas on behalf of the King be seen trailing out of the field of view.

40 mnassa vol 71 nos 1 & 2 41 february 2012 a misty cloud

A few emission nebulae are situated Moving deeper into the flimsy outer towards the north-west fringes of the northern edge of the LMC, the open cloud, an area which la�erly has been cluster NGC 1782 is embedded in a piece of covered in nebulosity. NGC 1737 appears nebulosity. It is a small cluster interwoven small but obvious, with a few kno�ed with haze but, strangely, easily seen patches in its midst. On the outer edge – although, sadly, with no stars resolved. faint stars are visible and various filters The clusters NGC 1767 towards the west will improve the view in a magnificent and NGC 1772 slightly further south can way. also be glimpsed in a wide field of view.

NGC 1743 is just slightly brighter than Would you have guessed that you might its neighbours, situated just to the south discover a galaxy in the misty cloud? of NGC 1737. The core of this cluster is Well, the edge-on galaxy NGC 1809 bright and very �ght, and an obvious star could be confused with a piece of cloudy in the embedded nebulosity draws the nebulosity situated just 24’ south-east eye slightly away. NGC 1740 towards the from the clusters above. However, careful east is not at all easy to separate against observa�on through a telescope will the misty objects which share the field reveal its elongated north-south spindle. of view. In the vicinity the objects NGC The magnitude 8 star (HD 33031) can 1745, NGC 1748 and NGC 1756 can also serve as a guide just 4’ towards the north. be found. This area is do�ed with knots of faint

42 mnassa vol 71 nos 1 & 2 43 february 2012 deep-sky delights

stars. It is by no means an easy object to The deep inner part of the LMC can find in such a busy, hazy star field, and I only be described as impressive, with found averted vision to be my best way of nebulosity and haze woven like braid that discerning this galaxy. mingling well with faint splinter stars. One of the most outstanding clusters, NGC Favourites among many of us are the very 1910, shares this field, displaying a mass popular globular clusters, of which quite a of faint stars. Higher magnifica�on will few can be found in the LMC. NGC 1854 bring out faint knots and strings of just rides comfortably towards the very dense visible starlight. The cluster, which is truly middle area covered with many faint a showpiece, is larger and brighter than stars embedded in the obvious nebulosity. most of the clusters in the Cloud. With The is rela�vely bright, careful observa�on dark areas can be round in shape, with a small dense core detected in the misty surroundings. It is and surprisingly outstanding against the one of the most beau�ful regions inside background star field. It is difficult to the LMC (see sketch below). resolve any stars which cling �ghtly together. The rela�vely large NGC 1850 NGC 2070 is situated in a rich and is situated 6’ towards the north-west, with impressive part of the LMC, and is one of the smaller cluster NGC 1858 just to the the most outstanding objects against our south of NGC 1854 (see sketch below). The southern hemisphere skies. It is easy to see larger and very much more gaseous glow of why this object is nicknamed the Tarantula both NGC 1856 and NGC 1858 towards the as it appears to sit in its delicately south is a feast to the eye, with faint stars woven web. The object is saturate with embedded in the pieces of nebulosity. faint, flimsy nebulosity strings and wisps

42 mnassa vol 71 nos 1 & 2 43 february 2012 a misty cloud of haze, which is quite impressive. There A close neighbour to NGC 2070 is NGC are so many facets to this object situated 2074, situated further south. It is a rich in this beau�ful, full field of delight. The cluster of stars embedded in the diffuse object with its nickname brings to mind nebula which extends slightly southwards the Golden Garden Orb-Web spider found away from the stars. in the northern parts of South Africa. When the The small open cluster sun shines on the spider NGC 2100 is situated and its web the golden within the very extreme colour is reflected and eastern edge of the LMC. creates an amazing shiny It is bright and outstanding impression. It is incredible against the busy star field that the male which is with a rela�vely �ght core. one-tenth the size of the Higher magnifica�on female, lives on the outer shows off a few brighter edge of the web. As soon stars embedded in the as the female feeds, the misty glow of the object. �ny li�le male will quickly Fainter stars can be impregnate her before glimpsed around the edges she possibly sees him as poten�al prey that complement the cluster to its full. to be devoured (see picture). Explore the spider’s web and its numerous silky The LMC is one of a kind, and what a feast smears of light which are saturated with to the eye of us humans, who can only �ny li�le star clusters and numerous gaze in wonder at the starry skies with delicate streaks of haze. their amazing objects.

Object Type RA (J2000.0) Dec Mag. Size NGC 1711 Open Cluster 04h50m6 -69°50ʹ 10 2.3’ NGC 1737 04 54 0 -69 10 9-10 50” NGC 1743 Diffuse Nebula 04 54 5 -69 12 8-9 2’ NGC 1782 Open Cluster/Neb 04 57 8 -69 23 8-9 3’ NGC 1809 Galaxy 05 02 5 -69 34 12 3.2’x0.8’ NGC 1854 Globular Cluster 05 09 3 -68 51 10.4 1’ NGC 1910 Open Cluster 05 18 7 -69 14 11.2 8’ NGC 2070 Bright Nebula 05 38 6 -69 06 1-5 30’x20’ NGC 2074 Bright Nebula 05 39 3 -69 30 8 4.0’x2.5’ NGC 2100 Open Cluster 05 42 2 -69 13 9.6 2.8’ mnassa vol 71 nos 1 & 2 44 february 2012